The report demonstrates that: (1) almost three quarters of unemployed people on the scheme went into jobs or education as a result; (2) the programme contributed three pounds to the economy for every pound invested by the taxpayer; (3) it also boosted participation of people from ethnic minority backgrounds in culture and the arts – half of participants compared to four per cent of the creative workforce as a whole.

Over the last two years New Deal of the Mind has put over 500 young people into paid work placements with some of the leading arts organisations in the UK. Participating employers included Pinewood Studios, The Royal Opera House, The British Library, The National Portrait Gallery, The National Theatre, Somerset House, Only Connect Theatre, Notting Hill Band Association, Royal Court Theatre and many other small and large arts organisations. A list of partner employers can be found here: www.thecreativesociety.co.uk/partners

New Deal of the Mind, set up by journalist Martin Bright, is an arts employment charity that helps young people, not in education, employment or training (NEET) find jobs in the creative industries.

Using funding from the Department for Work and Pensions Future Jobs Fund scheme, young people on Jobseeker’s Allowance were given six month work placements with arts organisations and provided with training, coaching and networking opportunities.

The evaluation’s key findings include:

• 71% of participants on the programme went straight into employment or education at the end of their placement.

• 53% percent of participants identify themselves as being from ethnic minority backgrounds (compared to 4% of the creative workforce in the UK).

• 90% of participants would not have been able to participate if the placement had been unpaid.

• Over three years, it is estimated that the programme contributed towards approximately £9.6m of economic value, or £2.90 for every pound invested.

The evaluation, conducted by Envoy Partnership, identified a number of strengths of the scheme, including: a sector-specific approach to getting people back to work; matching young people with jobs that engage them; creating a wider talent pool for the creative sector to recruit from.